Bursa, Ottoman metropolis in northwestern Turkey
Bursa is a city in northwestern Turkey, sitting at the base of the Uludağ mountain range and spreading through several green valleys. Mosques with multiple domes and old craft districts scatter across the rising and falling streets, while modern shopping centers and apartment blocks fill the outer neighborhoods.
The place became the first capital of the Ottoman Empire in the 14th century and remained the political center for nearly three decades before power shifted to Edirne. During this time, buildings and foundations were created that still shape the cityscape today.
Locals call the place "Green Bursa" because of the many parks and tree-lined streets that grow between residential neighborhoods and shopping districts. Many families spend their weekends in tea gardens at the edge of town, sitting under walnut trees and enjoying views of the mountains.
Public transport connects the different city districts through bus lines and metro routes that also reach higher residential areas. A cable car runs from the center to the ski area on the mountain and can be used for day trips in clear weather.
Beneath the city lie hot springs that supply several public baths with naturally warm water and have been used for therapeutic bathing since Roman times. Some of these bathhouses have marble pools and small domes through which soft light falls into the humid rooms.
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